Privacy policy & terms of use

The short version

OpenTap is free, open source, and funded out of pocket. We don't run ads. We don't sell data. We don't track you across the web. We collect the minimum information needed to make the platform work, and nothing more.

What we collect

When you submit a report

We collect the location of the fountain (GPS coordinates or a geocoded address), the issue type and severity you select, any description you write, and optionally a photo. If you choose to provide your email or phone number for status updates, that information is encrypted before it is stored in our database. We cannot read it in plain text.

Contact information

Providing your email or phone number is completely optional. If you do provide it, we use it only to notify you when your report's status changes. We never share it with third parties, advertisers, or city staff. It is encrypted at rest using AES-128 encryption.

IP addresses

We log IP addresses to prevent abuse of the platform, such as spam reports or automated submissions. We do not use IP addresses to identify you personally. IP logs are not shared with anyone.

What we do NOT collect

We do not use cookies for tracking. We do not use analytics services that track you across websites. We do not collect your name, age, gender, or any demographic information. We do not require an account to submit a report.

How we use your data

Report data (location, issue type, severity, description, photos) is public. It appears on the OpenTap map and feed so that citizens and city staff can see what has been reported. This public visibility is the core of how OpenTap creates accountability for repairs.

Your contact information, if provided, is never made public. It is used only to send you notifications about your report.

Open data

All fountain and report data (excluding contact information) is available through our public API. This means journalists, researchers, advocacy organizations, and developers can access and build on the data. This is intentional — open data drives accountability and better outcomes for public water access.

Third-party services

OpenTap uses the following third-party services to operate:

Vercel (frontend hosting), Railway (backend hosting), Neon (database hosting), and OpenStreetMap (map tiles and geocoding). Each of these services has its own privacy policy. We do not send your personal data to any of these services beyond what is necessary to operate the platform.

Terms of use

What OpenTap is

OpenTap is a civic reporting tool that helps citizens report problems with public drinking water fountains. It is a community project, not a government service.

Data accuracy

OpenTap provides information as-is. We do not guarantee the accuracy of fountain locations, water quality information, or report statuses. Fountain data comes from a combination of public sources (OpenStreetMap), city data where available, and citizen reports. Any of these may contain errors.

OpenTap is not a substitute for official water quality testing. If you have concerns about the safety of your drinking water, contact your local water utility or health department.

Report accuracy

Reports are submitted by members of the public and are not verified by OpenTap before appearing on the platform. We do not guarantee that every report is accurate. City staff and community members can help verify reports through the platform.

No warranties

OpenTap is provided “as is” without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. We do not warrant that the platform will be available at all times, error-free, or that defects will be corrected.

Open source

OpenTap is open source software released under the MIT License. The source code is available on GitHub. You are free to use, modify, and distribute the code under the terms of that license.

Contact

If you have questions about this privacy policy or how your data is handled, you can reach us through our GitHub repository or by submitting a report through the platform with your contact information.